Use of Corrugated Hose for Admix Recycling in Fibrous Glass Insulation

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to apparatus for improving the thermal performance of fibrous glass insulation in the admix recycling of the insulation, which includes corrugated hose in a recycling portion of the apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/175,655, filed Jun. 20, 2002 (D0932-00258).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insulation assemblies and, more particularly mineral fibers, including fibrous glass insulation assemblies are known in the art. Fibrous insulation assemblies are used for insulating buildings. The insulation assemblies take the form of batts or rolls which are compressed for packaging and transport. Many prior art insulation assemblies are sized along their side edges by slicing or cutting the side edges to the desired shape and width.

In contrast to textile and reinforcement fibers, glass wool fibers are produced by processes which generate noncontinuous fibers of random lengths. Glass wool products are best known for their properties such as thermal or acoustical insulation, and as filtration media.

Various glass compositions have been used for wool products. Factors affecting the choice of the glass composition are the availability and cost of the raw materials, the melting cost, the forming process used (glass liquidus and viscosity requirements), and the product properties (durability, resilience). For example, the low-cost rock and slag wool compositions have a high liquidus and therefore cannot be formed by the rotary process. These compositions are fiberized instead by an air blast process or a rotating disk or multiple rotating drum process, resulting in a high-shot (droplets of glass that have not been fiberized) content.

Due to the high surface area of the wool fibers, the glass must be resistant to water attack and, for some applications have good chemical durability.

The most familiar application for wool products is for thermal insulation. The random intertwining of many small fibers effectively traps air within the insulation pack, thus providing the insulating properties. Also, the fibers tend to block radiative heat transfer due to their optical properties. The characteristics of fire resistance, chemical stability, and resistance to moisture attack male glass an ideal material for this application.

The same ability to trap air makes glass fiber a suitable acoustical insulation. This has led to the use of glass fiber as ceiling and wall panels in buildings and vehicles, and to its use in air handling systems where noise control is important.

The fiber diameter of the wool products is an important indicator of its performance. In general, finer fiber products are more costly to produce, but provide better thermal and acoustical performance per pound of glass. Current technology can produce average fiber diameters that range from about 1 to 25 um. In a wool pack, the fiber diameter will vary considerably from the average value.

In most glass wool products, a phenolic binder is added during the manufacturing process to bond the mat together. Depending on the application, the amount of binder can vary between 4 and 15 percent by weight.

The present method of use is directed to an improvement in the recycling of fibrous glass insulation, in order to reduce thermal conductivity and improve product appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of corrugated hose for admix recycling in fibrous glass insulation, in order to reduce thermal conductivity and improve product appearance. The use of corrugated hoses serves to improve the opening of admix nodules, and reduces their density. By “corrugated” it is meant shaped into folds, or parallel and alternating ridges and grooves. Advantages of the method of the present invention include (1) a more uniform appearance of product with less color and density contrast between virgin fibers and recycled admix, and (2) an improved thermal performance/reduced thermal conductivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing corrugated hoses in place of smooth metallic pipes in the admix recycling circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following is a preferred embodiment of the present invention:

In the forming section where a glass mat is formed, virgin fiber is produced and liquid binder applied to the fiber. Pieces of recycled fiber mat are also added in the forming section. The formed glass mat composed of virgin binder, uncured binder, and recycled fiber mat is then conveyed from the forming section to the curing oven where the oven cures the binder and sets the fiberglass mat to the proper thickness. The recycled fiber mat is conveyed to the forming section from the edge trim section near the exit of the curing oven. Referring to FIG. 1, after the cured, hot fiberglass mat 10 exits the curing oven, it is cooled and then conveyed to the edge trim slitter section. The “slitters” on each side of the line then saw off the rough edges of the mat 11 and 12 to produce material 13 with square sides. The rough edge strips from the slitters are cut into small pieces in hammermills 14 and 15 and conveyed by edge trim fans 16 and 17 to the forming section (approximately 150 to 300 feet in length) through a corrugated hose 18 and 19, rather than a smooth pipe. The admix is the cut, cured binder and fiber that is conveyed to the forming section.

Note that after the admix handling fans, corrugated hoses are installed instead of the standard smooth metallic pipes for the admix recycling circuit.

The use of corrugated hoses improves the opening of admix nodules, and reduces their density. Advantageous outcomes include (1) a more uniform appearance of product, with less color and density contrast between virgin fibers and recycled admix, and (2) an improved thermal performance/reduced thermal conductivity.

The following test results (ASTM C518 at a mean temperature of 75 degrees F.) demonstrate the effectiveness of the present invention in terms of thermal performance improvement, using building insulation product: Admix with Corrugated Hose Standard (Admix with Smooth Pipe) A B Insulation Product Density 0.82 0.82 0.79 (lb./ft³)

Admix with Corrugated Hose Standard (Admix with Smooth Pipe) A B Thickness (in.) 3.5 3.5 3.5 Thermal Conductivity 0.271 0.268 0.271 (BTU inch/hr · ft2° F.) R-value 12.91 13.08 12.91 (hr · ft2° F./BTU)

Thus, for the same R-value as the standard approach, approximately 3.7% less material is required. This represents a significant improvement over conventional systems.

While this invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly to include other variants and embodiments of the invention which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention. 

1. In an apparatus adding recycled fiber mat in small pieces to virgin glass fibers having an uncured binder thereon, and the apparatus curing the binder to form a mat of insulation having the virgin glass fibers, the binder and the recycled fiber mat, the improvement comprising: one or more fans impelling the recycled fiber mat through one or more corrugated pipes to reduce the density of the recycled fiber mat; and the one or more corrugated pipes conveying the recycled fiber mat of reduced density prior to adding the recycled fiber mat of reduced density to the virgin glass fibers having an uncured binder thereon, such that the mat of insulation comprises the virgin glass fibers, the binder and the recycled fiber mat of reduced density that was conveyed through the one or more corrugated pipes.
 2. In the apparatus of claim 1, the improvement further comprising: a recycling circuit comprising the one or more fans and the one or more corrugated pipes.
 3. In the apparatus of claim 1, the improvement further comprising: hammermills cutting the recycled fiber mat into small pieces prior to the one or more fans impelling the recycled fiber mat through the one or more corrugated pipes.
 4. In the apparatus of claim 3, the improvement further comprising: a recycling circuit comprising the hammermills, the one or more fans and the one or more corrugated pipes. 